Electric ironer



Oct. 29, 1957 R. H. COOK ETAL 2,810,971

ELECTRIC IRONER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 23. 1954 Inventors Richard H Coo/f Charles A. Ber/epsc/z Oct. 2 9, 1957 R. H. COOK EI'AL ELECTRIC IRONER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23. 1954 United States Patent ELECTRIC IRONER Richard H. Cook, Milford, and Charles A. Berlepsch, North Haven, Conn.

Application June 23, 1954, Serial No. 438,685 11 Claims. (Cl. 38--99) This invention relates to ironing devices and more particularly to an iron of special construction which may be employed to iron portions of garments such as ruflles, pleats or sleeves. The device is intended to be detachably mounted by a board or the like, and the garment or portion of the garment to be ironed is drawn over iron so as to be readily ironed into the proper shape and form.

As illustrated, the heat for the iron is supplied electrically and it is desirable in a device of this kind that the device be perfectly safe both from the standpoint of the electrical connections, and also from the standpoint of restricting the heated portions of the device to the ironing head itself, or that portion of the head which contacts the garment, in order that the remainder of the device shall not become excessively hot with consequent danger of discomfort to, or inflicting burns, upon the user.

To this end, the present device comprises a standard of hollow form and of insulating material such as Bakelite, for example, and the hollow metallic head is mounted at the upper end of this standard and secured thereto in such a manner as to conduct as little heat as possible to this standard. Also, the current-carrying wires leading to the head are carried to this standard through the lower end thereof so that there will be no danger of the wires coming in contact with the user of the device.

Means are also provided for controlling the degree of heat of the ironing head and this may be adjusted so that the upper limit may be varied in accordance with the material which is being ironed. This control is obtained by the use of a thermostat or temperature-responsive device, the active element of which is in contact with the metal of the head so as to be controlled directly by the temperature thereof.

One object of the present invention is to provide an ironing device of the character described which shall be relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to E manufacture, and, at the same time, be particularly serviceable in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing device of the character described wherein a hollow standard of insulating material is employed to support a metallic ironing head, the head being mounted at the upper end of the standard, and current-carrying wires are enclosed within the standard.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ironer of the character described having a hollow insulating standard supporting at its upper end a hollow metallic ironing head and having a clamp member at its lower end comprising a pair of cooperating clamp jaws, one of which is formed integrally with the insulating standard, and the other is spring-pressed into engagement with the first.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an ironer of the character described having an insulating standard supporting at its upper end a hollow metallic ironing head of particular shape and design, an electric heating element being provided within the head, and temsuitable clamp upon a table, ironing the heated surface of the L ice perature-responsive means also provided within the head to control the heat of the iron.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel featuresv and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an ironer embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of an on line .22 of Fig. 1;

1 Fig. 3 is a sectional vertical view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and i Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional viwe on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, we have shown in the drawings an electric iron comprising a hollow standard which may be of electrical insulating material such as Bakelite, for example. At the lower end of this standard is provided a laterally projecting jaw or clamp member 11 formed integrally with the standard of the same material, which clamp member is adapted to rest upon the upper side of a suitable support 12 such as an ironing board or table.

Cooperating with the clamping jaw 11 is a second clamping jaw 13 secured to the lower end of a sleeve 14. This sleeve 14 is slidably mounted upon a tubular member 15 which extends upwardly into the lower end of the standard. The latter is provided with a transverse web 17 and the tubular member 15 is provided with screw threads 18 at its upper end, and is secured to the web 17 by the nuts 19 and 20 received upon the threads.

The tubular member 15 is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 21 and the upper end of the sleeve 14 is provided with an opposite downwardly facing shoulder 22. A spring 23 surrounds the tubular member 15 between it and the sleeve 14 and acts between the shoulders 21 and 22 to urge the sleeve member 14 upwardly and thereby urge the clamping member 13 toward the cooperating jaw member'll.

It will be seen that with this construction, it is only necessary to grasp the lower jaw 13 and pull it downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, against the tension of the spring 23 in order to release the clamping jaws 11 and 13 from the support 12 and, of course, the device may be detachably clamped upon the support by a similar pro-' cedure.

A hollow ironing head of special form and design is mounted at the upper end of the hollow standard 10. The head as shown is formed in two similar mating halves 25 and 26, which may be joined together along the median plane 27. Below the upper hollow portions, the two halves of the head are so formed as to provide substantially circular flanges 28 and 29 connected by a relatively small stem 30. It will be noted that the flanges are snugly received in the upper end of the hollow standard and the upper flange is provided with a shoulder 31 adapted to seat upon the upper end of the standard.

The upper flange 28 is also provided with diametrically opposite recesses 32 and 33 within which are secured by the screw 34 the upper ends of narrow spring members 35 and 36. The lower ends of these spring members are secured to the standard by the screws 37 and 38. With this construction, it may be noted that there is a minimum amount of contact between the metallic head porironer head 1 tion of the device and the insulating standard so that the latter will not become overheated, and this is particularly true in view of the fact that the connecting springs will transmit a very small amount of heat to the standard or the screws 37 and 38. v

The two halves of the ironing head are secured together by the screw 34, and are also held against rela- 'or strap 55 so as to limit the turning of the to indicate ithe'degreefl ,ofcheat vided with a nose portion Contact member 51 to adjust the position thereof.

tive displacement by a pin 40 inserted in reversing openings 41 in the halves of the 42 inserted in similar openings 43 (Fig. 2) in the nose of the hollow head.

The head portion of the device isshown more particularly'intFigs. 1, 2 'and 3, and it will be noted from Figs. 1. and 3 that the metal of the head, which is preferably.

flange 29 and also by a pin aluminum, is relatively thick .at'i'ts upper surface, as

44, but gradually .decreasesinthickness upon shown at its side edges so that it is relatively thin at its lower portion, as shown at 45, for example, adjacent the flange 28,-

so that heat. from the heating element, which will be hereinafterdescribed, will be absorbedztoa greater extent -by "the thicker, upper wall 44 .of'thehead. This :will

' result in this wall beingmai'ntained .at a higher degree of heat than the side walls 45 which is desirable both due 7 to the'fact that .the upper surface of the head will be the one which is principally employed in use, and also due 7 to the fact that a smalleramount of heat will be transmitted to the hollow standard; 7

As illustrated, the hollow head is of substantially circular fonn'inhorizontal cross section at its rear end and alsojof substantially circular 'form in cross sectionat the nose or front end, the rear end being described upon a considerably larger, radius, and the side walls are substantially tangent to the two circles. so that the larger rear portion of the head merges into the pointed nose along smooth lines, both in the vertical dimension and head is an electrical heating of hollow heart-shape form,

- Mounted withinitheheating element is a temperatureresponsive switch consisting of two .contact members 51 and 52. j. The:member. 52 is a bimetallic temperatureresponsiveelement .s'osthat upon heating, it will move 7 upwardly'away from :the contact member 51 against the spring 53; The position of thelower contact member 5 l-may be regulated 'by a rod. .54 .rotatably mounted in the suitableopenings in the flanges 28 and 29 of the head member, this A-rod being threadedly engaged in a bracket sec' ured to the base 56 of theicon'tact mem- A stop '57 is secured upon the rod .55, the end of engages the depending end :58 of the bracket rod 54 to a little less than bets. Which one completerevolution.

The rod 54 may be rotated by a manually engageable turn-button 60 secured at the lowerend of this rod and projecting through the .case in the opening 61'provided for this purpose. The member 60 and the adjacent portion of the casemay be provided .withsuitable indicia permitted by the adjustmentoftherod 54. The upper end vofthis rod isproa 62 hearing against the lower The contact members 51 and 52 are supported by the base '56 which in turn is secured, to a -bracket 63 formed integrally; with "the hollow head. the temperature-responsive.element52 isjin direct contact with the upper wall of the hollow head to receive heat therefrom'land was to be fc'ontr'olledby the heater the ironing surface. It will :be;u'nderstood that when the thermostatic -'element '52'is heated, it will tend to bend upwardlyagainst the tension lofthe spring element 53 and become disengaged from ,the' contact member 51' and-thus'cut oh? the current. I in The leader/ire ;50 is connectedfltorthelower contact 7. member 51 while the upper contact member 52fisconnected to :a lead .wire 64 which enters the heating coil ,andcompletes thecircuitwiththe wire 49. a V

In this construction,

While we have shown and described some preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification of the invention and within claims. 7

What we claim is:

1. An ironer for rutfies, pleats or the like, comprising a verticall-y'disposed hollow standard of insulatiugmaterial open at one end, a hollow metallic ironing head the scope of the appended seated on the open end of said standard at the upper end thereof, said head having'a portion received within the standard with a flange on said portion and relatively narrow strap-like'members secured to the flange and standard to'secure the head in place,,and means for heating said head. I

2. An ironer for rufiles,- pleats or the like, comprising:

a vertically disposedhollow standard of insulatingmaterial open at one end, a hollow metallic ironinghead seated ;on the open end of said standardat the upper end thereof, said head having a portion received withinthe standard with a flange on said portion andrclatively narrow-strap-like members secured to the flange and a standard to secure the head in place, and means for heating said head, said members being disposed within the" standard 3. An ironer for ruflles, a vertically disposed hollow terial open at its upper end, a hollow'metallic ironing head seated on said standard atthe upper end thereof, said head having a neck portion projecting into tlie standard and fitting snugly therein, spaced securing means attached to the neck portion and to the standard at the inner surface "thereof to secure-the head to the standard,

pleats or the like, comprising standard of insulating maand means to heat-said head.

4. Anironer forriifilegpleats or the like, comprising ayertically disposed hollow standard of insulating material -open at its upper end, a hollow metallic ironing head seated on said standard at the upper end thereof,

said head having a stem portion received within the standard-witha flange on'saidportion and relatively narrow strap-like members secured to the flange and standard tosecure the head in place, means for heating said head, said head comprising two substantially equal half portions meeting on a vertical plane, and an electrical heating elementmounted withinthe hollow head.

5. An ironer of the characterdescribed eomprising'a hollow standard of insulating material, a hollow metallic head mounted on the upper end of said standard, said standard having an integrally formed upper clamp member projecting laterally from its lower end, a lower cooperating clamp member, means attachingsaid lower clamp member to the standard comprising a'hollow cord carrying member secured to the standard and projecting therefrom, a sleeve slidably surrounding said last-named member and having the lowerclamp member secured thereto, and spring means supported by the standard and acting against the sleeve to urge said lower clamp meinber toward the upper clamp member. s

6. An-ironer of :the character described comprising a' hollow standard of insulating material, ahollow metallic head mount'ed on the upperend fo'fs'aid standard, said: standard having an integrally formed upper clamp member projecting laterally from its lowerend, a lower cooperating 'elamp member, means attaching said lower clamp member to the standardcomprising a hollow cordcarrying member secured mine standard and projecting:

therefrom, a sleeve slidably surrounding said last-named member and having the lowercl'amp member secured thereto, and said sleeve and cord-carrying member 'hav-'- ing opposing shoulders and a compression spring on said e hollow cord carrying member within the sleeve and actingagainst said shoulders to urge said clamp members togather. 1

7. An ironer "of the character described comprising a-i and variation within the spirit hollow standard of insulating material, a hollow metallic head mounted on the upper end of said standard, said standard having an integrally formed upper clamp member projecting laterally from its lower end, a lower cooperating clamp member, said standard having a transverse web member intermediate its ends, a tubular cordcarrying member secured at its upper end to said web member and projecting from the lower end of the standard and having a shoulder thereon, a sleeve slidably surrounding the tubular member and having the lower clamp member secured at the lower end thereof, and a spring within and acting at one end against a portion of the sleeve and at its other end against said shoulder to urge said lower clamp member toward the upper clamp member.

8. An ironer of the character described comprising a hollow standard of insulating material, a hollow metallic head mounted on the upper end of said standard, said standard having an integrally formed upper clamp member projecting laterally from its lower end, a lower cooperating clamp member, said standard having a transverse web member intermediate its ends, a tubular cordcarrying member secured at its upper end to said web member and projecting from the lower end of the standard, a sleeve slidably surrounding the tubular member and having the lower clamp member secured at the lower end thereof, said tubular member and sleeve having opposing shoulders, and a compression spring acting between said shoulders.

9. An ironer for rufiles, pleats or the like, comprising a vertically disposed hollow standard of insulating material open at its upper end, a hollow metallic ironing head heated on said standard at the upper end thereof, said head having a depending stem extending into the standard, and a flange member on the stem fitting snugly within the standard, and spring members secured to the standard and to the flange member to secure the head in place.

10. An ironer of the character described, comprising a hollow standard of insulating material open at its upper end, a hollow metallic head seated on the upper end of said standard, said head having a downwardly projecting portion extending into the standard, said portion comprising a stern and a pair of spaced flanges thereon, said flanges fitting snugly within the standard, and relatively narrow strap-like members secured to one of said flanges and to the standard to secure the head in place.

11. An ironer as in claim 10 having an electrical heating element mounted within the head, a temperature-responsive element adjacent the upper wall of the head, electric switch means adapted to be opened by said element, and means to control the opening of said switch means comprising a rotatable controlling member extending through said flanges, and said standard having an opening in its side wall through which a part of said controlling member projects.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,199,326 Weil Sept. 26, 1916 2,097,521 Haas Nov. 2, 1937 2,262,667 Dafiorn et al Nov. 11, 1941 2,501,747 Stovers Mar. 28, 1950 2,637,126 Fitzsimmons Mar. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 184,994 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1922 

